Back From Cape May

We're back from a few days at the beach where we spent the majority of our time relaxing and the rest of our time building sand castles, dominating the arcade with our nieces and nephews, and eating smores. Next year we would definitely like to stay for the whole week, the town is beyond charming! 

Cape May NJ

The Mr. and I leave tomorrow for a fun family vacation in Cape May New Jersey. His Aunt and Uncle own a house there and they are kind enough to let 12 of the crazy Boland's stay there for a whole week! We are long overdue for a beach trip, and although we can only get away for a few days I look forward to every minute of it. I've never been to Cape May, but judging by the pictures I have been looking at I think it's my kind of place. 

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Vacation Highlights

The Mr. Hank and I returned late Wednesday from our 4.5 day trip to New England. I don't know what I loved more, spending time with my family or completely unplugging from reality. At the house there is no internet, cable, telephone, heat or air condition, dish washer, washer or dryer, and no shower. Staying in a house with so much family history is amazing, one of those "if the walls could talk" type of experiences. Reading the house Guest Book, which dates back before 1938, was probably my favorite. For some reason the House Guests who signed the book on the first few pages didn't fill in their arrival and departure date, nor did they leave any comments along with their entry. If only they knew how much it would have meant to us if they had! 

 It is so funny to think that at one point in time there were no trees within 300 yards of this rock which is now hidden by 40 foot tall trees deep in the forest.

 I don't know who these ladies are but in the background you can see the house before the kitchen addition.

House Before & After:

 These pictures may not fully illustrate how awesome of a transformation our Before and Afters really are, and to be perfectly honest my Mama is probably going to kill me for posting these, but oh well!

Before

the small child on the far right is yours truly ;-)

After
or "In Transition" if you ask Mom: Grandma Lizzie's old den sofa, two new Ralph Lauren navy and white ticking stripe pillows from HomeGoods, two new Ikea Ektorp chairs, and two new seagrass rugs is the most updating this room has ever seen.

Before

Pictured above are my Dad, Uncle, and Aunt with their Aunt and Grandparents.

After

I love how my Great Grandpa is standing in the before picture with my Dad and his siblings, and now his Portrait will forever hang on the wall behind him. 

Before

The only before picture I could find, which is actually too adorable for words, is of Grandma Lizzie baking cupcakes with my brother Sam and my cousins Jack and Tyler. 

After

 Our lovely farm house sink was centered in the kitchen to fix some plumbing issues, and placed under a stained glass window that was salvaged from the barn when it fell down a few years ago. Mom also added Some new Home Depot base cabinets, lights, and countertops from Ikea. 

I don't know who had more fun on our trip, me or Hank. Running around without a leash on for 4 days straight, attempting to learn to swim with his older mentors, catching frogs and spitting them out, and playing fetch with rotten apples that fell off the tree on the hill; what more could a pup ask for? 

The Garden

The Lake

Doing our laundry the old fashioned way

And last but not least, a peaceful car ride home!

Glen Acres

Growing up every summer our family would spend two weeks in Massachusetts at my Grandmother and Great Aunt's Summer house in the Berkshires. The home has been in our family since the early 1900's and up until this summer not much has changed. My parents have been working hard throwing away old rugs and furniture (which were purchased second hand in the 30's, no joke ) they bought a few kitchen cabinets from Home Depot, a new countertop from Ikea, and two new seagrass rugs should arrive for the living room today. It is still a work in progress, but I am so excited for the Mr. and Hank to see where I spent my summers as a child. 

My Grandfather holding my Dad in our pond in the back yard. It's a natural spring fed pond which used to be 10ft deep, but the damn cracked 30 years ago so it's only deep enough for the pups to swim in now. 

Keeping the family tradition, here I am with my brother and cousins by the pond. 

I hope one day it gets fixed so the Mr. and I can take pictures of our kids swimming in it.

I'll have pictures of the inside of the house and all its rustic charm when I get back!  

Vacation According To My iPhone

cute vintage accent chair in the library 

The Mr. reading by the fire

close up of the adorable stool 

Rich textures

Love this print!

 Lobby bathroom

 Please tell me I am not the only one who takes pictures of pretty bathrooms and lobby throw pillows while on vacation! I'm just glad no one walked in while I was taking this last photo, I don't know how I would have explained myself there... 

Greetings From Colorado

 I'm currently in Colorado with the Mr's side of the family, all 14 of us, for the whole week! To be perfectly honest the place where we are staying is so flipping beautiful I have no desire to hit the slopes. 

The proof is in the pictures... Happy Monday!